URGENT

[MonotoneHerbivore]

I’ve just seen one of those horrific abuse pictures again, I couldn’t look at it for long enough to report it. Is there anyone moderating tonight?

And maybe a separate thread to warn people not to open PMs. Not that it should be your responsibility though.

@TokyoSushi please start a separate thread to warn people not to open PMs.

I'm not sure what has happened and it sounds horrible, but I didn't think you could send images via PM?

Hello @TokyoSushi we are looking into this now and we are very sorry you received those links. We’ll update ASAP.

if anyone has received a PM with an unrecognisable link, please report it directly to us.

MNHQ - You need to make clear to members what the legal position is in relation to receiving this sort of material.

Members should familiarise themselves with what happened to Robyn Wright

Met officer convicted over abuse photos

Robyn Williams

I'm blocking private messages.

If users are getting PMs that may contain this kind of image then I think MNHQ should turn off PMs for everyone, and inform all registered users.

It was a link, I was on a thread discussing ski clothes and I thought somebody might have sent me a link to some.

I opened it for a millisecond and realising what I thought it was closed it immediately, I reported the message and erased it from my phone as I didn't even want it to be there.

I feel absolutely sick that I could even have received such a thing and have been incredibly upset since it happened.

MNHQ's advice above to forward on suspicious links to them is encouraging members to distribute banned images. The distribution of such images is a criminal offence.

Edit - I see you say "report" rather than forward on, I still think that's bad advice. You need to take proper legal and serious IT advice here and until you have it should disable PM function

That’s awful, Tokyosushi to have been targeted like that.

It seems unlikely that you were the only one to receive a message, there does need to be a warning to users not to open links from PMs.

TokyoSushi souns horrible and upsetting. I hope you're okay.

I am so sorry this happened to you @tokyosushi.

I think we should all block PMs for a while.

I've started a thread in chat to warn people not to open links, hopefully MNHQ are on it but it's not clear.

Totally agree. I'm on the app, the site may be different, but there's nothing obvious warning users about this.

MNHQ are verging into the territory of criminal negligence by not taking better and faster action to protect users.

There should be a warning on the site that this keeps happening, not just on here. Many people are still unaware of what has been happening and ALL users of the site should know!! I’m logging out and considering deleting now, it’s ridiculous.

Thread on chat here: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5280062-warning-dont-open-links-in-pms

@BeckyAMumsnet please can you address the point in the thread about posters being able to disguise links to dodgy websites with alt text

I've just checked and I have a PM. I don't want to click on it. @BeckyAMumsnet please can you advise me on how to get rid of it.

Sorry, I did look and this was a false alarm fortunately

@BeckyAMumsnet HQ needs to disable the PM function. You can't allow posters to be put at risk like this.

Hello - we have disabled PMs while we work on implementing further protections for users. We’re sorry for any inconvenience and will update you when we can. Thank you.

After this I tried to block PMs but as it is disabled I can’t.

Luckily I have not seen any of these images and have no wish to risk it. I am seriously thinking of deleting my account as there has been so much happen recently and it doesn’t seem as if MNHQ are on top of it and they are still relying on volunteers to staff night times.

Their net worth from 2023 shows 4 million. Surely they have the funds to deal with this and to pay staff 24/7.

@MagentaRocks you don't need to go into PMs to disable PMs, you go to settings, talk settings and then scroll down to 'block private messages'.

Thank you. I have done that now. I did look it different places but obviously missed that. Glad it is done now for when they enable PMs again.